Hendricks BBQ Seeks Approval to Add Distillery

The owners of Hendricks BBQ are hoping to open the Moonshine Blues Bar in 2013 complete with St. Charles-brewed moonshine. 

Owners Gurpreet Padda and Ami Hendricks-Grimes have applied to the city to open a distillery in the restaurant, located at 1200 South Main Street. 

Padda told the St. Charles Planning and Zoning commisison that they plan to produce about 35 gallons of white corn-based whiskey a week. 

"It'll probably have flavors that will be done as a fruit infusion post production," he said. 

In addition, they will age some of the moonshine in barrels and offer a tasting room. 

The Planning and Zoning Commission on Dec. 17 approved a bill that added a distillery as a permitted use for restaurants operating in the planned development riverfront district.

Padda still has to come back to the Planning and Zoning council to get approval for the amendment to the development plan for the restaurant. 

Currently, a microbrewery is a permitted use in the planned development riverfront district. Unlike at a microbrewery, patrons are unable to purchase liquor from a distillery and take it out of the restaurant. 

Live music is also planned for the blues bar when it opens.